Now first,1 here the Church of God may have much comfort in this thing, That all Idolaters, that all false worshippers, that all carnal politicians that are working against them, in all they do, they do but sow the wind, they can never prevail, be not afraid of them. The seed-time of our life is a seed-time for Eternity:2 It's an evil & dangerous thing therefore now to sow the wind, to lose this seed-time, and to have nothing for our souls to seed upon to all eternity, Oh! how sad will it be when we are entering in upon Eternity, then to see that we have all our life-time sown the wind? Did men consider of their actions, that their actions were seeds for Eternity, certainly they would take ⟨p. 40⟩more heed what they do.3 Men are very careful of their seed; What Husband-man that is to sow his ground, would go into a Market to buy Chaff, to buy blasted stuff to be his seed; no, he would buy the greatest and plumpest Corn of all to be his Seed. So should we be careful of all our actions, for they are such seed as must bring forth an harvest of eternal happiness, or else eternal sorrow; and especially we had need look to our Seed when God gives us a fair opportunity of sowing. All Hypocrites and Formalists, and False-worshippers, they sow the wind, their actions are but as the wind: but the Servants of God whose works come from Faith, and are indeed godly, they sow to immortality and glory, their Seed will bring forth a glorious harvest. I remember Luther, though he were a man that seemed to beat down works very much, yet he hath this passage concerning works: Take works out of the cause of Justification, and no man can too magnificently commend good works that come from faith. And speaking of a good work that comes from faith,4 It is more precious (saith he) any one good works, it is a more precious thing than Heaven and Earth: yea, he himself that is no Merit-monger yet he lifts up good works that come from faith, and saith, the whole world is not sufficient reward for one good work that comes from faith: Indeed the works of the Saints have a great deal of excellency in them,5 one gracious work hath more of the glory of God in it than all the creation of Heaven and Earth besides; I say, the whole frame of Heaven and Earth hath not so much of the Glory of God in it as one good work that comes from the Grace of God in the hearts of the Saints;
Now first,1 here the Church of God may have much comfort in this thing, That all Idolaters, that all false worshipers, that al carnal polititions that are working against them, in al they do, they do but sow the wind, they can never prevail, be not afraid of them. The seed-time of our life is a seed-time for Eternity:2 It's an evil & dangerous thing therefore now to sow the wind, to lose this seed-time, and to have nothing for our souls to seed upon to all eternity, Oh! how sad will it be when we are entring in upon Eternity, then to see that we have all our life-time sown the wind? Did men consider of their actions, that their actions were seeds for Eternity, certainly they would take ⟨p. 40⟩more heed what they do.3 Men are very careful of their seed; What Husband-man that is to sow his ground, would go into a Merket to buy Chaff, to buy blasted stuff to be his seed; no, he would buy the greatest and plumpest Corn of all to be his Seed. So should we be careful of all our actions, for they are such seed as must bring forth an harvest of eternal happiness, or else eternal sorrow; and especially we had need look to our Seed when God gives us a fair opportunity of sowing. All Hypocrites and Formalists, and False-worshipers, they sow the wind, their actions are but as the wind: but the Servants of God whose works come from Faith, and are indeed godly, they sow to immortallity and glory, their Seed will bring forth a glorious harvest. I remember Luther, though he were a man that seemed to beat down works very much, yet he hath this passage concerning works: Take works out of the cause of Justification, and no man can too magnificiently commend good works that come from faith. And speaking of a good work that comes from faith,4 It is more precious (saith he) any one good works, it is a more precious thing than Heaven and Earth: yea, he himself that is no Merit-monger yet he lifts up good works that come from faith, and saith, the whol world is not sufficient reward for one good work that comes from faith: Indeed the works of the Saints have a great deal of excellency in them,5 one gracious work hath more of the glory of God in it than all the creation of Heaven and Earth besides; I say, the whol frame of Heaven and Earth hath not so much of the Glory of God in it as one good work that comes from the Grace of God in the hearts of the Saints;
- 1Use 1. Comforts for the Church.
- 2Life, the seed-time for eternity.
- 3simile.
- 4good works
- 5how excellent
